Galatasaray has announced legal action against the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) and its Arbitration Board after the decision to reduce José Mourinho's suspension.

The club accuses the governing body of "abuse of power" and will take legal steps against TFF President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu and all members of the Arbitration Board, according to a statement signed by Can Natan, a member of Galatasaray's Board of Directors.

The Mourinho Controversy and His Reduced Suspension

The dispute began after the goalless draw between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe (0-0) last Monday, a historic match as it was the first in the Turkish Super Lig to be officiated by a foreign referee, Slavko Vincic from Slovenia.

This decision was made after Fenerbahçe repeatedly claimed that Turkish referees favor Galatasaray.

After the match, Mourinho sparked outrage by stating that members of the Galatasaray bench "jumped like monkeys" while protesting a referee decision. This remark initially led to a four-match ban and a €42,500 fine.

However, following an appeal from Fenerbahçe, the TFF Arbitration Board reduced the punishment to just two matches and a €14,700 fine, causing Galatasaray's fury.

Galatasaray's Legal Response

The Istanbul-based club has labeled the suspension reduction as a disgrace and decided to challenge the ruling in court.

"We are ashamed of the unconditional support for José Mourinho's constant disrespect toward Turkish football, Turkish referees, and Turkish culture," read Galatasaray’s official statement.

The club also accused Mourinho of showing no respect for Turkish football and vowed to take every necessary measure to protect the league's integrity.

"These incidents clearly show what values some are willing to sacrifice just to win," the statement continued.

Mourinho Also Filed a Lawsuit Against Galatasaray

This legal battle intensifies just one day after Fenerbahçe announced that Mourinho has sued Galatasaray for €50,000 in damages, alleging "moral harm" due to personal attacks from the club.

With the Turkish Super Lig title race heating up, Galatasaray leads the standings with 64 points, while Fenerbahçe follows closely with 58.

What started as a heated on-field rivalry has now escalated into a courtroom battle, and this war between Turkey's two biggest clubs is far from over.